We're updating all the time: Photos / Videos / Twitter / facebook / Ros' Twitter This week it's the turn of the Labour Party to have its conference in Manchester, and we will be broadcasting the programme from there on Monday. On Saturday the party elected a new leader, Ed Miliband, as Gordon Brown stepped down when they lost the election in May.
During the period from May till this weekend Deputy Party Leader Harriet Harman had been standing in as leader, and she will also be joining us on World Have Your Say.
Harriet Harman is currently one of the most important women in British politics. Since she became an MP 28 years ago, the number of women in the House of Commons increased from 3% to 20%.
In an article in Saturday's Times Miss Harman says that the low number of female MPs exists because there is still an entrenched pattern and expectation that an MP or Cabinet Minister should be a man - because traditionally, they have been.
That''s all from the team at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester. If you want to suggest a debate, go to our Facebook page - .
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:58
113631290
Shouvik in Kent, England emailed - Women tend to be better represented at the local level in many countries. Therefore, decentralising power and devolving to the local level would have the effect of empowering women.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:54
113631290
Melinda on Facebook - I am so proud that Australia finally has a female prime minister, especially after moving back from the US who have never had a female president. It ended up being a non-event that she was female in the election.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:51
113631290
David in Sao Paulo, Brazil, emailed - My country is practically and culturally a man's world. I think it is worth remembering that the vast majority of the population here are Christians. Our understanding of gender issues is definitely influenced by the male power in church life and hierarchy. Sonia is a forward-thinking, progressive politician, and a woman, who, together with a few other like-minded politicians, has managed to get to power in Brazil. I'm one of her voters - I'm part of this minority.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:49
113631290
Kirumira Kikonyogo on Facebook - Women are great and need power . But it don't mean that a woman bcome a man! Them 2 sexes are different by design!!
Comment sent via SMS
18:45
114851115
Even without the 30 % quota for women in Rwanda, the African country would still have 26% women in parliament-- that is higher than France, the Uk and several Eu states. Gabriel Gabiro, a Rwandan in Stockholm, Sweden
Comment sent via Twitter
18:43
114851098
SO HAPPY my computer speakers work again & I can enjoy @大象传媒_WHYS!!!!!!! :)
Comment sent via SMS
18:43
110396212
No women Plumbers, mechanics, technicians, engineers. Where is the quota? Women don鈥檛 want to do these jobs or do they?
How can women expect to lead with confidence when they are missing from a huge part of Industry
Adrian O sullivan
Belgium
Comment sent via Facebook
18:43
113631290
Jamin on Facebook - Women are almost exactly like men - they are human after all. Capable of dishonesty, aggression, and making tough decisions. I think in the US, the main issue is the public's perception - a woman politician that behaves like a politician is branded a "bitch", while the male politician is simply viewed as doing his job.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:42
113631290
Stanley on Facebook - It has everything to do with the way we've been raised and cultured. Normally, politics is characterised by deceit, violence and dishonest means of gaining and clinging to power, normally at all cost. Women generally are laid back, they lack resources and political connections that men have and these greatly reduces their influence. Very sad indeed!
Comment sent via BLOG
18:38
113631290
Stu C on the blog - I think we still see guys dominating because of the fact that equal rights only really got going in the 1970s, and I expect that over my generation things will progress.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:38
113631290
Irene in Texas on the blog - I don't think quotas do anyone any good. I would like more representation by women in government, but they need to be elected on a level playing field to be effective. Quotas can be removed as easily as they are imposed and a woman who gained a position as a result of an imposed quota is, in a sense, a lame duck.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:37
113631290
Jeremiah on Facebook - I believe that it comes down to gender roles. Many people think that women should be at home, raising children, etc. Sometimes even parents and grandparents tell their daughters not to go into certain careers because it’s no place for a woman to be in. I think more women politicians need to be in the (positive) spotlight more often to show that women can be in politics and they can make a difference on federal levels.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:34
113631290
Chintan in Houston on the blog - Maybe we should have a 30% quota for women in jails as well since it is mostly men who are imprisoned. Does that sound ridiculous? I bet it does; and so does the quotas in the parliament.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:33
113631290
Vijay on Facebook - There should be legislation that requires 50 percent representation for women in the House of Commons - that way all parties have to comply. Surely there must be 330 women in the UK qualified to become MPs?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:33
113631290
Gerard on Facebook - Women can make an impact on their society and country through politics. The reason why women are less attracted to become politicians may be because there aren't enough female political role models as shining examples.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:29
113631290
Nalucha Mayamba on Facebook - politics involves a lot of cheating and dishonesty, especially in Africa. Most women are too honest and principled
Comment sent via BLOG
18:28
113631290
Robyn in Kentucky on the blog - women are just as capable as men, but here in the US, there is still alot of the old boys club involved with politics. And for any of the women who make the grade, if they are strong then they are called alot of ugly names
Comment sent via Twitter
18:26
114721964
Another fantastic women's issues dicussion no @kcrw's streaming news channel program- @大象传媒_WHYS. Women in Politics!
Comment sent via Facebook
18:25
113631290
Nalucha Mayamba on Facebook - politics involves a lot of cheating and dishonesty, especially in Africa. Most women are too honest and principled
Comment sent via Facebook
18:20
113631290
Javid on Facebook - women have gained only what men have been willing to grant; they have taken nothing, they have only received.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:19
113631290
Dr T K Hariharan emailed - The reason that women don't do well in politics is because they cannot tell an open lie in the presence of a big audience!
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:19
113631290
Jennifer in Albany emailed - I think woman get more hands on in the shaping and changing of our actual day-to-day lives, and therefore do not delve into a career in politics. They do not want to waste time campaigning on a big stage, because they are too busy making a difference in the lives of the people in their community to be interested in being a career politician.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:15
113631290
Bur on the blog - Leadership requires people who are strategic and proactive. That is the majority of men but only a handful of ladies.
Why aren't there more women in politics?
| Monday, 9 Sept. 2010 | 18:06 - 19:00 GMT
We're updating all the time: Photos / Videos / Twitter / facebook / Ros' Twitter
This week it's the turn of the Labour Party to have its conference in Manchester, and we will be broadcasting the programme from there on Monday. On Saturday the party elected a new leader, Ed Miliband, as Gordon Brown stepped down when they lost the election in May.
During the period from May till this weekend Deputy Party Leader Harriet Harman had been standing in as leader, and she will also be joining us on World Have Your Say.
Harriet Harman is currently one of the most important women in British politics. Since she became an MP 28 years ago, the number of women in the House of Commons increased from 3% to 20%.
In an article in Saturday's Times Miss Harman says that the low number of female MPs exists because there is still an entrenched pattern and expectation that an MP or Cabinet Minister should be a man - because traditionally, they have been.
Your comments
Comment sent via host
That''s all from the team at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester. If you want to suggest a debate, go to our Facebook page - .
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Shouvik in Kent, England emailed - Women tend to be better represented at the local level in many countries. Therefore, decentralising power and devolving to the local level would have the effect of empowering women.
Comment sent via Facebook
Melinda on Facebook - I am so proud that Australia finally has a female prime minister, especially after moving back from the US who have never had a female president. It ended up being a non-event that she was female in the election.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
David in Sao Paulo, Brazil, emailed - My country is practically and culturally a man's world. I think it is worth remembering that the vast majority of the population here are Christians. Our understanding of gender issues is definitely influenced by the male power in church life and hierarchy. Sonia is a forward-thinking, progressive politician, and a woman, who, together with a few other like-minded politicians, has managed to get to power in Brazil. I'm one of her voters - I'm part of this minority.
Comment sent via Facebook
Kirumira Kikonyogo on Facebook - Women are great and need power . But it don't mean that a woman bcome a man! Them 2 sexes are different by design!!
Comment sent via SMS
Even without the 30 % quota for women in Rwanda, the African country would still have 26% women in parliament-- that is higher than France, the Uk and several Eu states. Gabriel Gabiro, a Rwandan in Stockholm, Sweden
Comment sent via Twitter
SO HAPPY my computer speakers work again & I can enjoy @大象传媒_WHYS!!!!!!! :)
Comment sent via SMS
No women Plumbers, mechanics, technicians, engineers. Where is the quota? Women don鈥檛 want to do these jobs or do they? How can women expect to lead with confidence when they are missing from a huge part of Industry Adrian O sullivan Belgium
Comment sent via Facebook
Jamin on Facebook - Women are almost exactly like men - they are human after all. Capable of dishonesty, aggression, and making tough decisions. I think in the US, the main issue is the public's perception - a woman politician that behaves like a politician is branded a "bitch", while the male politician is simply viewed as doing his job.
Comment sent via Facebook
Stanley on Facebook - It has everything to do with the way we've been raised and cultured. Normally, politics is characterised by deceit, violence and dishonest means of gaining and clinging to power, normally at all cost. Women generally are laid back, they lack resources and political connections that men have and these greatly reduces their influence. Very sad indeed!
Comment sent via BLOG
Stu C on the blog - I think we still see guys dominating because of the fact that equal rights only really got going in the 1970s, and I expect that over my generation things will progress.
Comment sent via BLOG
Irene in Texas on the blog - I don't think quotas do anyone any good. I would like more representation by women in government, but they need to be elected on a level playing field to be effective. Quotas can be removed as easily as they are imposed and a woman who gained a position as a result of an imposed quota is, in a sense, a lame duck.
Comment sent via Facebook
Jeremiah on Facebook - I believe that it comes down to gender roles. Many people think that women should be at home, raising children, etc. Sometimes even parents and grandparents tell their daughters not to go into certain careers because it’s no place for a woman to be in. I think more women politicians need to be in the (positive) spotlight more often to show that women can be in politics and they can make a difference on federal levels.
Comment sent via BLOG
Chintan in Houston on the blog - Maybe we should have a 30% quota for women in jails as well since it is mostly men who are imprisoned. Does that sound ridiculous? I bet it does; and so does the quotas in the parliament.
Comment sent via Facebook
Vijay on Facebook - There should be legislation that requires 50 percent representation for women in the House of Commons - that way all parties have to comply. Surely there must be 330 women in the UK qualified to become MPs?
Comment sent via Facebook
Gerard on Facebook - Women can make an impact on their society and country through politics. The reason why women are less attracted to become politicians may be because there aren't enough female political role models as shining examples.
Comment sent via Facebook
Nalucha Mayamba on Facebook - politics involves a lot of cheating and dishonesty, especially in Africa. Most women are too honest and principled
Comment sent via BLOG
Robyn in Kentucky on the blog - women are just as capable as men, but here in the US, there is still alot of the old boys club involved with politics. And for any of the women who make the grade, if they are strong then they are called alot of ugly names
Comment sent via Twitter
Another fantastic women's issues dicussion no @kcrw's streaming news channel program- @大象传媒_WHYS. Women in Politics!
Comment sent via Facebook
Nalucha Mayamba on Facebook - politics involves a lot of cheating and dishonesty, especially in Africa. Most women are too honest and principled
Comment sent via Facebook
Javid on Facebook - women have gained only what men have been willing to grant; they have taken nothing, they have only received.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Dr T K Hariharan emailed - The reason that women don't do well in politics is because they cannot tell an open lie in the presence of a big audience!
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Jennifer in Albany emailed - I think woman get more hands on in the shaping and changing of our actual day-to-day lives, and therefore do not delve into a career in politics. They do not want to waste time campaigning on a big stage, because they are too busy making a difference in the lives of the people in their community to be interested in being a career politician.
Comment sent via BLOG
Bur on the blog - Leadership requires people who are strategic and proactive. That is the majority of men but only a handful of ladies.